SAN JOSE, Calif. – February 16, 2010 – Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments decreased by 18 percent in 2009 when compared to 2008 area shipments, according to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) in its year-end analysis of the silicon wafer industry. Revenues also declined by 41 percent in 2009 compared to 2008.

Silicon wafer area shipments in 2009 totaled 6,707 million square inches (MSI), down from the 8,137 million square inches shipped during 2008. Revenues fell to $6.7 billion from $11.4 billion posted in 2008. "This past year was clearly a difficult time for the industry” Takashi Yamada, chairman of SEMI SMG and General Manager SUMCO. ”We are encouraged by the increase in silicon shipments over the past three quarters.”

Annual Silicon* Industry Trends

Worldwide Silicon Data

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Area Shipments (MSI)

6,262

6,645

7,996

8,661

8,137

6,707

Revenues ($B)

7.3

7.9

10.0

12.1

11.4

6.7

2009 Quarterly Silicon Shipments*

Worldwide Silicon Data

1Q 2009

2Q 2009

3Q 2009

4Q 2009

Area Shipments (MSI)

940

1,686

1,972

2,109

* Silicon for semiconductor applications

Silicon wafers are the fundamental building material for semiconductors, which in turn, are vital components of virtually all electronics goods, including computers, telecommunications products, and consumer electronics. The highly engineered thin round disks are produced in various diameters (from one inch to 12 inches) and serve as the substrate material on which most semiconductor devices or "chips" are fabricated.

All data cited in this release is inclusive of polished silicon wafers, including virgin test wafers, epitaxial silicon wafers, and non-polished silicon wafers shipped by the wafer manufacturers to the end-users.

The Silicon Manufacturers Group acts as an independent special interest group within the SEMI structure and is open to SEMI members involved in manufacturing polycrystalline silicon, monocrystalline silicon or silicon wafers (e.g., as cut, polished, epi, etc.). The purpose of the group is to facilitate collective efforts on issues related to the silicon industry including the development of market information and statistics about the silicon industry and the semiconductor market.

SEMI is the global industry association serving the manufacturing supply chains for the microelectronic, display and photovoltaic industries. SEMI member companies are the engine of the future, enabling smarter, faster and more economical products that improve our lives. Since 1970, SEMI has been committed to helping members grow more profitably, create new markets and meet common industry challenges. SEMI maintains offices in Austin, Beijing, Bengaluru, Berlin, Brussels, Grenoble, Hsinchu, Moscow, San Jose, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.semi.org.